Kota Kinabalu: The academic cooperation between Sabah Parks and University of Malaya (UM) will bear positive impact on various fields of research, said Permanent Secretary to the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai.He said the cooperation which was sealed through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will bring mutual benefit to both parties."For Sabah Parks, such research cooperation will help them to improve the management of protected areas," he said at the MoU signing ceremony between Sabah Parks and UM's Built Environment Faculty, here, Monday.
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"As for UM, the cooperation will open up more avenues to conduct various researches which could be published globally."I am confident, with UM being the 114th best university in the world, it would further highlight our country especially on research, apart from helping to conserve the State's treasures."
Through the MoU, he said, various research activities will be held."It will not only benefit UM students but also Sabah Parks staff in the fields of research and writing," he said.
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Datu Rosmadi believed the strategic cooperation will enhance the knowledge, practice and understanding on various fields."As such, it is important for the research findings to be documented and made as a guideline for future protected areas management.
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"I can see that the joint effort will drive Sabah Parks as the ultimate platform for eco-system research not only in the country, but also internationally."I hope the cooperation will be continued in future."He said since its establishment in 1964, Sabah Parks is currently managing nine parks – three land parks and six marine parks."Its main function is to protect and conserve natural areas which have unique, high aesthetics value for the benefit of future generation," he said.Towards this end, he said, Sabah Parks have forged close working ties with other institutions, especially academic institutions."Previously, we have tied up with Kew Botanical Garden, Kyoto University, and recently we linked with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) on sustainable management of the Tun Mustapha Park, apart from a cooperation with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) on writing and book publication."More such cooperation will be implemented."Meanwhile, UM vice-chancellor Datuk Ir Abdul Rahim Hashim said the academic cooperation between the university and Sabah Parks in Kota Kinabalu will run for five years starting this year."The MoU is timely as the nation's direction is currently headed towards various transformation agenda with a focus on inclusive planning," he said in a speech read by UM's Built Environment Faculty dean Prof Dr Yahaya Ahmad."As such, new approaches are needed to produce talented and skilful human capital who are not only confined to in-campus learning, but also learning together with community guided by global development issues."Abdul Rahim hoped the MoU will offer a good platform for Sabah Parks and UM to share their expertise on various fields.
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He said the cooperation between UM and Sabah Parks will be boosted by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) grant from the Research Councils United Kingdom (RCUK) for four years – from Oct 2017-Sept 2021.The MoU was signed by Sabah Parks Board of Trustees Chairman Datuk Seri Dr Tengku Zainal Adlin Tengku Mahamood, Sabah Parks Director Dr Jamili Nais and Yahaya. - Ricardo Unto
